Areas of Practice
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Profile
Ian graduated from the University of British Columbia with an LLB in 1995 and has practised tax and estates law since his call to the Bar in 1996. He completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ two year In-Depth Tax Course in July, 1998.
Ian regularly advises clients in personal and corporate tax planning, corporate reorganizations, estate planning, charitable gift planning and international tax and trust planning. This work also includes advising clients on tax issues arising in connection with the acquisition or sale of a business, divorce, separation, and variations of trusts and wills. Ian has also represented clients in disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency and the Ministry of Provincial Revenue (B.C.) and has appeared on behalf of clients in courts of all levels including the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the Tax Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Federal Court – Trial Division, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ian has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 2002 and was a member of the board of directors of STEP Canada from 2007 to 2017, serving as Chair of STEP Canada from 2013 to 2015. STEP is the worldwide professional association for those advising families across generations.
Ian is a member of the board of directors of Aqueduct Foundation, a charitable public foundation offering donor advised funds to facilitate smart and flexible philanthropic solutions for engaged donors.
Ian was a member of the board of governors of Quest University Canada from 2008 to 2017 and served as Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2016. Quest University Canada was Canada’s first independent not- for-profit secular university, offering one degree (Bachelor of Arts and Sciences) with a singular focus on excellence in undergraduate education.
Professional Memberships and Associations
Member, Law Society of British Columbia
Member, Canadian Tax Foundation
Member, Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, Taxation and Wills and Trusts Subsections
Member, International Fiscal Association
Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Publications, Articles and Comments
“Private Business Succession”, published in British Columbia Estate Planning and Wealth Preservation, 2003 – 2015, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (Chapter Co- Author)
“Cross Canada Legislative Update”, STEP Canada National Conference, Toronto, ON (2015) (Co- Presenter)
“Rectification of Trusts and Wills”, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (October, 2014)
“Disarming the Succession Time Bomb: The Role of Trusts, Insurance, and Shareholders’ Agreements in the Transition of Family Businesses”, (Co-Author, with Chris Ireland, Shelagh Rinald and Glenn Stephens), Report of Proceedings of the Sixty-Third Tax Conference, 2011 Conference Report (Toronto: Canadian Tax Foundation, 2012), 15:1-62
“Tax Consequences of Emigrating from Canada”, STEP Pacific Rim Conference, Santa Monica, CA (May, 2011)
“Cross-Border Estate and Family Business Planning”, STEP Pacific Rim Conference, Santa Monica, CA (May, 2011)
“Tax Consequences of Emigrating from Canada”, International Bar Association Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC Canada (October, 2010)
“Current and Constant Issues in the Taxation of Domestic Trusts”, 2010 British Columbia Tax Conference, (Vancouver: Canadian Tax Foundation, 2010), 4:1-54
“Cross-Border Tax and Estate Planning Across the Pacific (Canada)”, STEP Pacific Rim Conference, Santa Monica, CA (May, 2010)
“Legislative and Litigation Developments in Canada”, STEP Pacific Rim Conference, Santa Monica, CA (May, 2010)
“Trusts and Privately Held Corporations”, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (May, 2010)
“Estate Plans, Trust Structures and Related Tax Planning”, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (2010)
“STEP– A Year in Review”, Presentation to STEP Vancouver Branch (Co-Presenter) (2010)
“Estate Freezes and Post-Freeze Planning”, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (2008)
“Alter Ego and Joint Partner Trusts”, Estates Trusts & Pensions Journal, (2008), Vol. 28, p. 306
“Residential Real Estate – The Tax Stuff”, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (December, 2008)
“A Comment on the Constitutionality of the Probate Fee Act (BC)”, Estates Trusts & Pensions Journal, (2007) Vol. 27, p. 9
”Business Succession – Passing the Reins”, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (November, 2007)
“Real Estate Fundamentals 2007 – Essential Tax Issues”, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (2007)
“Disbursement Quota Rules and Inter-Charity Transfers”, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (November, 2006)
“The Scoop on Testamentary and Alter Ego Trusts”, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (September, 2006)
“Essential Tax Issues in Real Estate Transactions”, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (October, 2005)
“Tax Changes Affecting Trusts”, (2005) Trusts and Trustees, Vol. II, Issue 8 (June & August, 2005)
“BC Probate Fees”, (2004) Vol. 12, No. 7, Canadian Tax Highlights, 2-3
“British Columbia Ferry Corporation et al. v. The Queen – Regulations Must Conform to the Authorizing Legislation”, (2001), Vol. 49, No. 5, Canadian Tax Journal, 1233-1241
“Thanks to ‘Kiddie Tax’ Canadians May Not be Able to Split Income”, (1999) Tax Notes International, Volume 19, Number 15
“Due Diligence Issues In the Purchase of a Business”, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, BC (1999) (Co-Author)